Best travel destinations for beauty professionals seeking to blend business and pleasure

With 2018 in full swing, most people are beginning to plan their vacations for the next year. Studies have shown that 2018 is the year many have resolved to be bolder in their travels. For people who work in the fashion industry, this often means choosing destinations that involve discovering new and exciting clothing, cosmetics and hair products. While for some this can mean going on the hunt for a particular item, such as a leather good in Argentina or a watch in Switzerland, others enjoy exploring a larger variety of items when they travel.

Enter: beauty exhibitions. These events offer a wide array of beauty-related products that allow visitors in the industry to not only promote their own products, but also to explore new ones being presented by fellow professionals. For the fashion-obsessed who want to try new things in 2018, there’s nothing more exciting than combining business and pleasure by adding an immersive beauty experience to the mix. Here are three top locations around the world where you can do just that.

Beautyworld Middle East: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Beautyworld Middle East is a can’t-miss event for fashion and beauty professionals who want to participate in one of the most important beauty events in the region. Those who clear their calendar for May 8 through May 10, 2018, and complete the necessary registration, will have the opportunity to join more than 1,570 companies from countries all over the world. The product groups this year will include:

Hair, Nails and Salon Supplies

Cosmetics and Skincare

Fragrance

Machinery, Packaging and Raw Materials (for those involved in the production-end of the industry)

Imagine spending a day in one of the souks in Deira, before heading to the Beautyworld trade fair to emulate their spirit in your own way by presenting, perusing and purchasing at a show dedicated to the things you like best. More information on this trade fair can be found here.

America’s Beauty Show: Chicago, United States

One of the United States’ largest beauty conventions, America’s Beauty Show is the place to be from April 28 to April 30, 2018. Organized by Cosmetologists Chicago, this show boasts over 80,000 professionals in the beauty salon industry, making it an occasion just as momentous as watching the Cubs play at Wrigley Field. The last day of this year’s convention even includes a new event called ColorFest ’18, which is designed especially for those who specialize in hair coloring. So if you’re a hair professional looking to gain more insight on how to guide clients who want to dye their hair black (which, as people in the industry know, is not a decision to be made lightly), this is the perfect place to do so.

Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna: Bologna, Italy

This beauty convention prides itself on being a place where people from all over the world come together to advertise their products and learn about those of others. Beauty professionals interested in vacationing in beautiful Bologna can divide their time between sites like the Archiginnasio, the former central building of the University of Bologna, and the networking center that is Cosmoprof Worldwide. March 15 through March 18 include Cosmopack, a show devoted to the design and manufacturing areas of the industry, as well as COSMO Perfumery and Cosmetics. From March 16 to March 19, the COSMO Hair & Nail & Beauty Salon will allow professionals with expertise in these areas to come together. Whichever show you choose, the aperitivo and ragù alla Bolognese you enjoy in Bologna’s historic downtown after the convention will taste all the better with the knowledge that you have successfully combined your passion with your love for exploration.